Revit and it’s utilization in multiple stages of construction

Revit is one of the most widely used BIM software globally. This software re-wrote the history of digitization of the AEC and construction industry by adopting Building Information Modeling features with an excellent way of dealing with design and construction hazards. Autodesk is one of the leading CAD and BIM Software Company, which launched Revit a couple of decades ago with an intention to introduce the virtual construction modeling feature within the Industry. This offered excellent virtual modelling and visualization features like planning, 3D modelling etc. initially and later added many other feature that benefitted the industry manifold.

There have been multiple upgrade versions of this software year on year with better features and interoperability with other software. In this article we shall understand how the Architectural discipline has profited through the BIM technology overall especially using Revit. We will talk about how Architectural construction Drawings and other services are now involving this too.

Revit Conceptual Design and development: 2D Design drawings are converted into 3D BIM Models through this software. The 3D view enables Architects or builders to virtually see the building the way it would look like post construction. We can make changes pretty quickly in design without any repetitive changes. It becomes more productive for Architects to develop Revit Construction Drawings instead of working on the CD Sets using AutoCAD. While AutoCAD takes a lot of time in making changes or meeting standards of accuracy, this software is quicker and intelligent enough to reflect the changes made on plans in elevations or sections. Last minute changes and other critical design changes are easily sorted in a better manner. Though you spend some additional hours creating a 3D model, the extraction of sheets in 2D and adding details become better. Accuracy and productivity is increases tremendously with the virtual construction modeling using Revit.

Once you detail the model in 3D you can get easy outputs and also diverse building data such as quantities, schedules, independent details etc. These details in the long run help in advanced construction stages such as facility management, energy analysis etc. Revit model once created can be upgraded and seamlessly used in different stages of construction. It can be used for construction scheduling, Estimation, Architectural 3D rendering etc. and throughout the entire Building construction life cycle.

Revit Architecture is a widely used software by Architects for conceptual designing. Since we have features like design option, energy modelling etc. available it becomes easier and more beneficial to create conceptual design. Using Revit can change Architectural practices drastically by providing options and parametric features that aesthetically helps in designing and extracting construction drawings. We can work on shadow studies and perform many other environmental analysis using this BIM software. It is not just the 3D modeling feature that has made this software popular, it is the overall end to end project lifecycle process it supports. One 3d model created in the start of the project during the conceptual stage can be seamlessly utilized across all phases. The availability of building data is extremely organized and helps in increasing the efficacy of the Architect tremendously.

Planning using Revit

With the help of the immaculate features in this software, planning becomes less effortless than before. There are various tools that helps in developing accurate and detailed Revit Construction Drawings based on the overall requirements. It is possible to make changes, work with different alternatives, 3D presentations, schedules etc.

Design, Detailing & Construction Drawing

Presenting a design in 3D format is more appealing than presenting in form of 2D layouts. 3D Revit Modelling, has helped in creating more aesthetically dominated design presentation with proper materials, details, realism and parametric components that can be used for multiple models of same or different nature. We can use methodologies like massing, detailed modeling or extracting 2D views to present design accordingly. Revit Modelling helps in designing and developing Construction drawings keeping in mind the standards and Building codes of any destination. The software has inbuilt library of components and the Architect can also create flexible Revit families customized according to the building requirements. Design flexibility is tremendous in Revit owing to its parametric features.

Revit’s role in Architectural 3D Rendering

Architectural 3D rendering is another impeccable design feature. Though Revit is not a software cut out for rendering, it acts as the input for a rendered model. Specific details like façade, landscaping, material application etc. can be done during the modeling stage. Post visualization it becomes easy to identify design changes, aesthetic revisions etc. We can also visualize the site and the relationship between the proposed designs through techniques like photomontage using Revit in saving huge amount of costs by presenting space planning, furniture layout, colors, material specification etc. much before the building is constructed. The builders and the buyers both get to see, the end product much before the construction takes place

Cost estimation and quantities

Apart from Revit construction Drawings and Architectural 3D rendering, Architects can also avail accurate cost estimation and quantities take offs. After applying material specifications, finalization of the conceptual design and construction drawings, Architects can estimate the overall cost and extract the material/quantities take off to know how much materials will be needed for construction. The construction drawing sheets and the model will automatically extract the quantity take offs without any additional effort. The advantage we get with this software is that we can very well be on top of the budget and ensure we do not step over our spending comfort zone.

Best part is that we can virtually construct a building in totality using Revit and can make as many as design modifications required to make a building more sustainable and efficient. In most of the cases, 90% of the design issues or changes are completed during the Revit BIM Modelling stage. Hence the onsite construction becomes extremely accurate and easy going compared to the standard projects without Building Information Modelling.

Sustainability and Facility Management with Revit

Energy modelling using Revit is also gaining immense popularity. Construction of sustainable buildings using materials which are environmental friendly and ability to adapt to Climate changes is the key feature. Global warming are actually one of the key issues dominating the world at the moment where there is a need to work with a design process that offers excellent flexibility and features that help in designing buildings that are in sync with the latest standards for energy analysis . Revit software has interoperable features and plugins that help in accomplishing such tasks.

To conclude, Revit has become a very integral part of the Architectural arena globally with all the advantages it has to offer to the changing time. Be it Revit Construction Drawings or any other output such as 4D Construction Schedules, Cost Estimation or BIM collaboration it has taken the construction industry on a whirlwind ride of efficiency. It is the most powerful tool that inter links Architectural, Structural and MEP disciplines on a single plane.